Washington Parish - Priority Issues

Economic Development

• Pay attention to and support agricultural and timber industry
• Attract higher paying jobs to the parish
• Help replace displaced workforce
• Reopen vital businesses forced to close
• Zero-interest loans to help reopen businesses
• Damaged businesses could be used for new businesses

Environmental Management

• Remove debris from watershed that could impede drainage
• Protect air and water quality
• Restore coastal wetlands
• Plant storm resistant trees (appropriate species) around buildings and homes

Human Services

• Create safety net for local public welfare
• Improve emergency response for the elderly
• Build family oriented activity center
•  Build animal shelter

Education

• Consolidate school systems
• Rebuild and improve schools and education

Public Health and Healthcare

• Provide all parish residents with quality health care and mental health care

Public Safety

• Increase presence and law for law enforcement officers
• Improve evacuation facilities, especially for special needs people

Transportation and Infrastructure

• Provide more reliable emergency communication facilities, including Emergency Broadcast Systems
• Improve transportation capacity for evacuation and economic development, linking to Interstate highways in neighboring parishes
• Widen rights-of-way to reduce potential tree damage during storms
• Build up and repair infrastructure utilities, emergency systems, roads and schools
• Improve coordination between government entities

Housing and Community Development

• Control potential rapid, non-conforming growth through zoning and planning
• Assess cost/benefit of repairing houses vs. rebuilding
• Address health and safety risk of damaged homes
• Locate FEMA trailers near community resources and amenities
• Affordable housing other than trailers
• Assisted living facilities
• Downtown beautification/renovation - protect historical buildings